Automatic fender.



Nb-@8814i418. PATENTED APR. 14,1908.

" J. B. PALMER.

AUTOMATIC FENDER. APPLICATION FI ED 001'. 30. 1907.-

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'No.8;84,41s.' I I PATENTEDAPRM, 1908.

' J.E.PALMER.

AUTOMATIC FENDER. APPLIOATIQH FILED OUT. 30. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. PALMER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

' AUTOMATIC FENDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fenders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic fenders for cars and other vehicles, and more particularly to one of the type set forth in Patent N 0. 853,7 28 granted to me May 14, 1907.

The principal object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of fenders of this character and thereby render the same less expensive, stronger, and more durable and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means wherebythe upright fender may be folded down upon the lower horizontal fender and both of them moved in under the car when they are not needed; and also to provide an improved locking device which will retain the fenders either in their normal extended position or in their folded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for preventing the fender from being tripped or actuated to its retracted position by snow drifts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wheel guard which is automatically dropped when the fender strikesan object.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a car showing the fender attached thereto and in its forward or normal position in full lines and in its retracted position in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the fender showing it in its forward or normal position in full lines and in its collapsed or folded position in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the lane indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 2'

ig. 5 is a detail perspective of one of the reaf Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1907.

Patented April 14., 1908.

Serial No. 399,898.

side bars or members of the fender; Fig. 6 v

is a detail view of the slotted link or strap connection between the two fenders Fig. 7 is a detail view of the double locking dog; Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of a locking device which may be employed upon the roller seats in the side pieces; and Fi 10 is a perspective view of another form 0 wheel guard which may be substituted for the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2 In the drawings 1 denotes the improved side pieces or supporting members which are arranged upon the opposite sides of the car outside of the line of the rails and are connected by a cross bar 2. The latter has its ends bolted to flanges 3 upon the members 1 and similar flanges 4 are also provided upon the latter for the attachment of hangers 0r brackets 5 which hang said members beneath the car. Said members 1 are preferably in the form of castings having at their rear ends downwardly inclined arms 6 and at their front ends upwardly and forwardly extending enlargements in which are formed slots or openings 7. In the lower ends of the slots 7 are formed two seats 8, 9, the foremost ones 8 of which are in a higher plane than the others and said slots have their greatest length disposed above the seats 8 for a purpose presently explained.

The side pieces or members 1 support the two fenders 10, 11, the former of which is normally disposed in an upright position and mounted so as so fold down upon the lower one 11, which latter is disposed horizontal and is so mounted as to automatically dip or scoop and drop to a lower downwardly and forwardly inclined position when struck by a person or other object. This lower fender consists of a front section 12 mounted for sliding movement upon two bars 13 which form a rear section and serve to support and guide this front section and which are suspended for retractive movement upon the side pieces or members 1. The front section 12 of the fender is mounted for sliding movement upon the bars 13 for the purpose of enabling both fenders to be slid in under the car to an outofthe-way position when not in use and I- provide a suitable locking device hereinafter described for locking said parts form parallel arms 14 which are connected by an angle cross bar 15. Within the rectangular forward portion of the section 12 is bolted or otherwise secured a similar shaped metal frame 16 containing a net 17. Upon the front edge of this lower fender I preferably secure a resilient buffer 18 of rubber or other suitable material.

The rear bars 13 of the lower fender are angular in cross section to receive the rear ends of the angular side bars 14 of the front section 12, which bars 14 are slidably retained upon the bars 13 by the engagement of their upwardly extended flanges with grooved or overhanging guide lugs 19 formed upon the inner faces of the upright flanges of the bars 13. Said bars 13 are sus ended from the side pieces or members 1 y flanged rollers 20 arranged in the slots 7 of said members 1 and journaled upon arms 21 at the forward ends of the bars 13, and also by links 22 pivoted at their rear ends to the downwardly inclined ends or arms 6 of said members 1 and at their forward ends to upwardly projecting arms 23 formed upon the rear ends of the bars 13. The construction of these parts is such that when the rollers 20 are engaged with the front seats 8 in the slots 7 the fender bars 13, and hence the front section 12 of the lower fender, will be held substantially horizontal, and that when said fender is struck the rollers 20 will be moved rearwardly off of the seats 8 and will drop down into the seats 9 so that the fender will be given a scoop or dip that will cause it to more effectively pick up the person or object which it strikes. This scoop or dip of the fender is caused both i r by the dro ping of the front ends of the bars 13 when t e rollers 20 drop into the lower rear seats 9 and also by the link 22 swinging the rear ends of the bars 13 upwardly as they are shifted rearwardly.

The upright fender 10 is preferably constructed as shown by bending a metal bar at a suitable distance from its ends to provide parallel upright side bars 24 which are connected by a cross bar 25 so as to form a rectangular frame within which is bolted or otherwise secured a similar shaped frame 26 containing a net 27. The up er portion of the fender 10 is connected to t 1e front of the car by detachable spring links or connections 28 and the lower portlon of said fender is loosely pivoted for slidin and swinging movement upon the lower fender 11. This connection consists in providing upon the lower ends of the bars 24 plates 28 containing pivot studs 29. which project through and rotate and slide in slots 30 formed in flat links or straps 31 which are pivoted at 32 to the side bars 14 of the front section of the lower fender. The inner ends of the slots 30 have curved portions 33 so that the ivots 29 when they move inwardly toward tffe pivots 32, will enter said portions 33 of the slots and it also enables the fender 10 to be folded down'upon the fender 11 when the fenders are to be shoved under the car. I preferably provide the upper edge of the upright fen der with an elastic buffer 34 similar to the buffer 18.

In order to lock the front sliding section 12 of the lower fender to the bars 13 I provide dogs 35 adapted to engage notches or seats 36 formed in the edges of the upright flanges of the angle bars 14. These dogs are pivoted u on the arms 21 on the bars 13 and prefer a ly upon the pivots or journals of the rollers 20 and they he immediately above the upright flanges of the bars 14 and the slotted links or plates 31. The arrangement of said dogs vertically above the latter and the provision of projections 37 upon the lower ends of the upright side bars 24 of the upright fender causes said dogs to be automatically raised and lowered when said upright fender is operated. This is accomplished in the following manner. When the upright fender 10 is swung downwardly upon the lower fender, the pivots 29 will be moved upwardly and rearwardly and will slide in the slots 30 in the links 31 and swing the latter upwardly and rearwardly on their pivots 32. Since the do s 35 are disposed above, or'in the path of the links 31, the latter will elevate them and swing them over on their pivots from the full line position to its dotted line position in Fig. 2. The elevation of the dogs 35 unlocks the lower fender which may then be moved rearwardly beneath the car to enable the dogs 35 to thus lock the fender 11 in either of its two positions, they are made double, that is, they have two prongs or points 38 at their free ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

For the purpose of preventing the fender from being retracted or dropped by its contact with a bank of snow or the like I provide means whereby the motorman may look it in its normal forward and elevated position. This means comprises two looking arms or levers 39 fixed u on a transverse shaft 40 and having their 'orward ends 41 notched to engage the arms 21 on the bars 13 so as to hold the rollers 20 in engagement with the seats 8. The shaft 40 is journaled in bearing brackets 42 on the cross bar 2 and adjacent to its center is a counterbalancing weight 43 which holds the locking members 39 normally retracted. The weight 43 is provided with an arm to which is connected a link 44 depending from a lever 45 which is pivoted beneath the car bottom and adapted to be actuated by a suitable foot piece 46 as seen in Fig. 2. When the foot piece 46 is depressed the link 44 will be drawn upwardly to swing the weight 43 and hence the shaft and the locking member or arm 39.

The operation of the lower fender to its retracted or lowered position is adapted to automatically lower wheel guards 47 which are I in the form of levers pivoted intermediate their ends upon lugs 48 depending from the side pieces or members 1 adjacent to their forward ends. The long lower ends of the guards 47 are curved or upturned as shown and their short upper ends 49 are adapted to engage lugs 50 projecting from the outer faces of the side bars 13 of the fender. The lugs 50 are so disposed that when said side bars are in their normal horizontal position the wheel guards will be supported in an elevated or substantially horizontal position and that when the fender is shifted rearwardly when struck by an object the lugs 50 will disengage the ends 49 of the wheel guards and the latter will drop downwardly by gravity and effectively prevent anything from passing under the wheels of the car.

In operation the lower fender 11 is disposed horizontal and in an elevated position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and when it is struck by a person or object the rollers 20 drop from the seats 8 into the seats 9 in the slots 7 and the links 22 elevate the rear ends of the side bars 13 so that the fender is moved both rearwardly and downwardly and is given a dip or scoop to effectively pick up the person or object struck.

When the fender is actuated rearwardly 1 the wheel guards 47 drop to their lower operative position so that should the person be struck in such a way as to pass under the fender he will be picked up by the guards 47 and prevented from passing under the car wheels. slots 7 with their greatest length. disposed. above the forward seats 8 that the fender can rise and pass over a person or objectcaught beneath the same. The provision of the slotted connecting links between the lower portion of the upright fender and the lower fender enables the latter to move to its retracted position without tilting the upright one and also enables the upright fender to be folded down upon the lower one so that both may be readily slid under the car and out of the way when not needed. The provision of the double locking pawls enables the lower fender to be locked in either of its two positions and owing to their peculiar arrange- It will be seen that by forming the ment, in the path of movement of the links 31 they will be automatically operated when the upright fender is actuated.

.In Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawings I have shown a locking device 51 which may be arranged in the side pieces or members 1 for the purpose of preventing the rollers 20 from being jarred or casually thrown off of their seats 8. This device comprises a plate which is pivoted at 52 in a recess formed in the bottom of the seat 8 and it hasa curved upper edge 53 which conforms to the curvature of the seat 8. One end 54 of the plate 51, however, extends upwardly so as to engage the rear portion of the roller 20 and more effectively support it upon the seat 8 but at the same. time owing to the pivotal mounting of the plate 51 the roller is permitted to drop ofi of the seat 8 when suflicient force is applied to the fender.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings I have shown a wheel guard that I may substitute for the wheel guards 47 above described. This device comprises a swinging guard member or fender 55 which may be of any suitable form and construction and which is pivoted to hanger arms 56 depending from the car truck 57. As shown the guard 55 consists of two arms or side bars 58 pivoted at their,

rear ends at 59 to the hangers 56 andhaving their front ends curved upwardly so as to readily slide over the ground or track when lowered upon the same. The side bars 58 are constructed of angle iron and are connected by cross slats 60, but as above stated the guard may be of any other suitable form and construction. I also preferably provide cross slats 61 or any other suitable guard device between the hangers 57. 62 denotes wings arranged upon each side of the guard and adapted to prevent the person caught by the guard or fender from getting under the wheels 63 of the truck. These wings may be attached to the guard 55 if desired but as shown they are attached to the hangers 56 by brackets or projecting portions 64. The guard 55 is supported normally in an elevated position by springs attached to the side bars 58 and adapted to have their free ends engage the brackets 64 or other portions of the hangers. By mounting the springs in this manner it will be seen that when the guard 55 is struck it will drop downwardly so that the person or object which it strikes cannot pass under it, and that when the weight is removed from it the spring 65 will elevate it to its normal position slightly above the track.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise showing set forth and that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the lnvention.

Having thus described my invention what,

. for supporting the rear portion of the fender and elevating it when it is moved rear- Wardly.

2. In a fender, the combination of suporting members having slots provided with iront and rear seats arranged at dilierent elevations, the greatest length or height of saidslots being arranged above the foremost seats, a retractive fender having its middle portion provided with means to engage the seats in said slots, and means for supporting the rear portion of the fender whereby said engaging means upon its middle portion may move upwardly in said slots to permit the tender to rise and pass over an object.

3. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged at different elevations, a re tractive fender, rollers upon the forward portion of the fender and arranged in said slots for engagement with said seats, and links pivoted to said members and to the rear portion of said fender.

4. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged at different elevations, a retractive fender having side bars, seat engaging means upon said side bars to enter the slots in said members, links connecting said side bars and said members, and a fender section upon said side bars and movable to either a projected or retracted position thereon.

5. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged at different elevations, a retractive fender having side bars, seat engaging means upon said side bars to enter the slots in said members, links connecting said side bars and said members, a fender section slidably mounted upon said side bars and means for locking said fender section to said side bars.

6. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, a retractive fender having side bars mounted for retractive movement upon said supporting members, a horizontal fender section mounted for sliding movement on said side bars and provided with a rack, and a double dog to engage said rack and lock said fender section to said side bars.

7. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, a retractivefender having side bars mounted for retractive movement upon said supporting members, a horizontal fender section slidable upon said side bars, a locking means for said fender section and an upright fender section adapted to control said locking means. a

8. In a fender, supporting means, a horizontal fender section slidable upon said supporting means and provided with a rack, and a double dog to engage said rack and look said fender section to said supporting means.

9. In a fender, the combination of supporting means, a horizontal fender section movable thereon to either a projected or retracted position, means for locking said fender section to said supporting means, and an upright fender section foldable upon said horizontal fender section and adapted to control said locking means.

10. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, a retractive fender having side bars mounted for retractive movement upon said members, a horizontal fender 'section carried by said side bars and an upright fender section mounted upon the horizontal one and having a sliding and pivotal connection therewith whereby the horizontal section may move rearwardly to its retracted position without tilting the upright section and the latter will be permitted to fold down upon said horizontal section.

11. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, a retractive fender having side bars mounted for retractive movement upon said members, a horizontal fender section carried by said bars, an upright fender section mounted upon the horizontal one, links pivoted to the horizontal section and having slots formed with curved inner ends, and pivot studs carried by the upper section and movable in the slots in said links.

12. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged at different elevations, a retractive fender supported from said members and having means to engage the seats in said slots and means for holding the engaging means on said fender in the uppermost seats in said slots to prevent the fender from being retracted.

13. In a fender, the combination of supporting means, a retractive fender adapted to be supported in an elevated projected position and to drop to a lowered retracted position when struck by an object, a locking member to engage the fender and hold it in its elevated projected position and means for operating said locking member.

14. In a fender, the combination of supporting means, a retractive fender adapted to be supported in an elevated projected position and to drop to a lowered retracted position when struck by an object, a normally retracted locking member for holding the fender in its elevated projected position and manually operated means for moving said locking members to an operative position.

15. In a fender, the combination of supporting means, a retractive fender adapted to be supported in an elevated projected position and to drop to a lowered retracted osition when struck by an object, a pivot, a ocking member carried by the pivot and adapted to engage the fender to hold it in its elevated projected position, a counterbalancing weight upon said ivot for holding said locking member norma ly retracted and means for actuating said pivot to move the locking member to an operative position.

16. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, a wheel guard pivoted intermediate its ends, and a retractive fender mounted upon the supporting members for retractive movement and engage with one end of said wheel guard to support it in an elevated position, said fender being adapted to disengage the wheel guard when moved to a retracted position.

17. In a fender, the combination of supporting members, fender carrying bars slidably mounted thereon and provided with lugs, and wheel guards pivoted intermediate their ends upon said members and adapted to have their short upper ends engage said lugs whereby they will be su ported in inoperative position when the finder is in its normal projected position.

18. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged atdifferent elevations, a re-- tractive fender carrying elements to engage I said seats, said elements being normally in the upper seats and adapted to drop into the lower seats when the fender is retracted, and guard or looking devices for preventing said elements from being casually shifted off of the elevated seats.

19. In a fender, the combination of supporting members having slots formed with seats arranged at different elevations, a retractive fender carrying elements to engage said seats, said elements being normally in the upper seats and adapted to drop into the lower seats when the fender is retracted, and pivoted guard plates arranged in said members adjacent to their elevated seats for the purpose set forth.

20. In a wheel guard, the combination with a wheeled truck, of hangers depending from the truck, a guard member pivoted in the hangers, and flat leaf springs attached to said member and having their free ends engaged with projections upon the han ers for supporting the member in a norma ly elevated position.

21. In a wheel guard, the combination with a wheeled truck, of hangers depending from the truck, a guard member pivoted in the hangers, side wings or guards attached to said hangers, and flat leaf springs attached to said member and engaged with said side wings or guards for supporting said member in a normally elevated position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN E. PALMER. Witnesses:

j WILLIAM J. BARRY,

EARL A. BURRILL. 

